MAC Gold Snow Ball Eye Compact Review, Photos, Swatches
Gold
MAC Gold Snow Ball Eye Compact ($29.50 for 0.28 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette that includes six eyeshadows. They are nearly full-sized (the Dazzleshadow shades are slightly less at 0.04 oz. but the other four are actually 0.05 oz. each, which is full-sized). The palette left something to be desired, as they were not the most usable or blendable on their own. This was a palette that required primer and/or a glitter adhesive to work well.
Look Using this Product
Gold
LELimited Edition. $29.50.
Frosted Fizz
Frosted Fizz is a soft beige with warm, yellow undertones and a satin finish. It had good color payoff in a single layer (which may be harder to discern in the photo, as it was closer to my skin tone). The consistency was smooth but more firmly pressed in the pan, which helped minimize excess kickup in the pan but was not enough to hinder blending. It wore nicely for seven and a half hours for me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Her Mistress (LE, $17.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Dior Feel #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- bareMinerals Presto (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- LORAC Navy #1 (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Chanel Clair-Obscur #3 (PiP, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Vanilla Bean (DC, $6.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Latinus (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- bareMinerals Solace (LE, ) is darker (85% similar).
- MAC Overdressed (LE, $23.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Natasha Denona Vertex (349CM) (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$17.00/0.05 oz. - $340.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be a "highly pigmented powder" that goes on "evenly and blends well." MAC eyeshadows run the gamut from total failures to long-time, cult-favorite staples. In general, the permanent line has been more consistent in performance--and higher performance at that--compared to limited edition launches, but it can really depend.
The Matte finish tends to have a firmer press and a bit of thinness compared to other matte formulas on the market, so MAC matte eyeshadows tend to build up better and have better wear-time without fallout as they're not powdery at all. Some of the newer matte finish shades have had a more velvety quality to them that gives them a softer feel but aren't powdery; these have been easier to blend and are often more pigmented in one layer.
The Lustre finish is designed to have sheerer pigmentation, and it often has more sheer to medium coverage with a drier, dustier consistency that can be hard to apply with a dry brush. Lustre finish shades can suffer from fallout during application, too. They are the old school version of an eyeshadow "topper." I would recommend applying with a fingertip or applying with a dampened brush to get smoother, more even coverage and minimize fallout.
The Satin finish is few and far in-between, but it is softer and more yielding than the Matte finish but performs similarly. They tend to have very low sheen but are quite blendable with medium to opaque coverage. It can be easy to mix the finish up with the Velvet finish, which has more of a sparkle-over-matte effect but are more powdery than the true Matte finish.
The Frost finish is more firmly-pressed into the pan but doesn't have fallout, is often pigmented, and blends out well enough. They can sometimes be a little drier to the touch depending on how much shimmer is in the shade. The Veluxe Pearl finish is one of the creamier takes within the range, and newer shades released in the finish tend to have more moderate, silicone-like slip. I've found that Veluxe Pearl finish shades tend to have more semi-opaque pigmentation and are more consistent in performance than some of the other finishes.
One thing I've found with MAC eyeshadows is that they tend to last longer without primer than the average brand (eight hours). While some eyeshadow shades don't swatch well, they often apply better in practice--as in on the eyes!--than just swatched on the skin. They can be quite hit or miss, and they have inconsistencies between releases (see Carbon and its sordid review history!).
Browse all of our MAC Eyeshadow swatches.
Look Using this Product
Frosted Fizz
LELimited Edition. $17.00.
Dazzle the Night Away
Dazzle the Night Away is a light gold with warm, yellow undertones and a sparkling finish. The texture was chunkier and looser, which gave it a drier feeling overall. It had sheer coverage when applied dry and semi-sheer coverage when applied dampened. I had to really pat and pack it on with fingertips to get greater coverage out of it, and there was a ton of fallout when I used this shade both during application as well as throughout the seven-hour wear time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Fenty Beauty Oh-Zone (LE, ) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Plead Gilty (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Anastasia Lucid (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Sephora + Pantone Universe Shifting Sand (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Best Makeup (LE, $22.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Cool Companions #1 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Persona Sassy (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Dior Pied de Poule #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC Pastelluxe #1 (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Anastasia A1 (Norvina Vol. 4) (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$18.00/0.05 oz. - $360.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "rich, stay-true pigments" that have a "twinkling sheen" with "minimal fallout." I didn't see it state that the formula could be used wet, but my experience is that it definitely can and often is preferable to apply the shades with a dampened brush to get richer coverage and smoother application. Some shades, however, work well on their own (pigmented, blendable, fairly long-wearing), and they have minimal to light fallout depending on the shades--the chunkier the sparkle, the more likely there is of greater fallout. The texture is soft, sometimes a little drier to the touch, but most shades are blendable.
Browse all of our MAC Dazzleshadow swatches.
Ingredients
Look Using this Product
Dazzle the Night Away
LELimited Edition. $18.00.
Spun from Gold
Spun from Gold is a light-medium gold with warm, yellow undertones and a chunky, glittery finish. It had semi-sheer pigmentation when applied with a dry brush, and it did intensify to opaque coverage when applied with a dampened brush. The eyeshadow felt more loosely pressed and seemed to have less binding ingredients, so it felt drier to the touch. There was heavy fallout during application unless I used it with a dampened brush or patted over an adhesive base. It lasted for seven hours but had some fallout over time.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Muse #3 (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Super Blue #1 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Golden Hour (LE, $6.00) is less pigmented (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Pearl (56P) (PiP, $29.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Emerald Isles (Eye Color) (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Agate (PiP, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Pat McGrath Jubilee (PiP, $25.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop The Lion (LE, $6.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Night Thrill (LE, $22.00) is darker (90% similar).
- ColourPop Birthday Wish (LE, $6.00) is cooler (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$18.00/0.05 oz. - $360.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "rich, stay-true pigments" that have a "twinkling sheen" with "minimal fallout." I didn't see it state that the formula could be used wet, but my experience is that it definitely can and often is preferable to apply the shades with a dampened brush to get richer coverage and smoother application. Some shades, however, work well on their own (pigmented, blendable, fairly long-wearing), and they have minimal to light fallout depending on the shades--the chunkier the sparkle, the more likely there is of greater fallout. The texture is soft, sometimes a little drier to the touch, but most shades are blendable.
Browse all of our MAC Dazzleshadow swatches.
Ingredients
Look Using this Product
Spun from Gold
LELimited Edition. $18.00.
Evening Light
Evening Light is a medium bronze with warm undertones and a golden, pearly sheen. It had excellent color payoff with a smooth, blendable texture that wasn’t too softly or too firmly pressed into the pan. The eyeshadow lasted for eight hours on me before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Don't Settle (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Dior Poncho #4 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Pat McGrath Enigma (PiP, $25.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Copper (LE, ) is darker (95% similar).
- KVD Beauty Chalice (LE, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Suspicion #4 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Auric Defiance (Cream) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Pretty It Up (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Guerlain Les Precieux #4 (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- Givenchy Palette Ors Audacieux #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$17.00/0.05 oz. - $340.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be a "highly pigmented powder" that goes on "evenly and blends well." MAC eyeshadows run the gamut from total failures to long-time, cult-favorite staples. In general, the permanent line has been more consistent in performance--and higher performance at that--compared to limited edition launches, but it can really depend.
The Matte finish tends to have a firmer press and a bit of thinness compared to other matte formulas on the market, so MAC matte eyeshadows tend to build up better and have better wear-time without fallout as they're not powdery at all. Some of the newer matte finish shades have had a more velvety quality to them that gives them a softer feel but aren't powdery; these have been easier to blend and are often more pigmented in one layer.
The Lustre finish is designed to have sheerer pigmentation, and it often has more sheer to medium coverage with a drier, dustier consistency that can be hard to apply with a dry brush. Lustre finish shades can suffer from fallout during application, too. They are the old school version of an eyeshadow "topper." I would recommend applying with a fingertip or applying with a dampened brush to get smoother, more even coverage and minimize fallout.
The Satin finish is few and far in-between, but it is softer and more yielding than the Matte finish but performs similarly. They tend to have very low sheen but are quite blendable with medium to opaque coverage. It can be easy to mix the finish up with the Velvet finish, which has more of a sparkle-over-matte effect but are more powdery than the true Matte finish.
The Frost finish is more firmly-pressed into the pan but doesn't have fallout, is often pigmented, and blends out well enough. They can sometimes be a little drier to the touch depending on how much shimmer is in the shade. The Veluxe Pearl finish is one of the creamier takes within the range, and newer shades released in the finish tend to have more moderate, silicone-like slip. I've found that Veluxe Pearl finish shades tend to have more semi-opaque pigmentation and are more consistent in performance than some of the other finishes.
One thing I've found with MAC eyeshadows is that they tend to last longer without primer than the average brand (eight hours). While some eyeshadow shades don't swatch well, they often apply better in practice--as in on the eyes!--than just swatched on the skin. They can be quite hit or miss, and they have inconsistencies between releases (see Carbon and its sordid review history!).
Browse all of our MAC Eyeshadow swatches.
Look Using this Product
Evening Light
LELimited Edition. $17.00.
Well Past Midnight
Well Past Midnight is a medium black with fine, multi-colored pearl over a matte finish. It had medium, buildable color coverage with a stiff, dry texture that was harder to blend out on the lid. I had the best luck packing it onto the lid and using the other gray shade in the palette to diffuse the edges. This shade stayed on well for seven and a half hours.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Swell Baby (LE, $17.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Dior Smoky Canvas #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Dior Golden Snow #5 (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Dior Volcanic #4 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Tzarine II (PiP, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Pretty Vulgar Darkside (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Filthy (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC A Waft of Grey #3 (PiP, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Plumluxe #5 (PiP, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- Wayne Goss Pearl Moonstone #5 (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$17.00/0.05 oz. - $340.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be a "highly pigmented powder" that goes on "evenly and blends well." MAC eyeshadows run the gamut from total failures to long-time, cult-favorite staples. In general, the permanent line has been more consistent in performance--and higher performance at that--compared to limited edition launches, but it can really depend.
The Matte finish tends to have a firmer press and a bit of thinness compared to other matte formulas on the market, so MAC matte eyeshadows tend to build up better and have better wear-time without fallout as they're not powdery at all. Some of the newer matte finish shades have had a more velvety quality to them that gives them a softer feel but aren't powdery; these have been easier to blend and are often more pigmented in one layer.
The Lustre finish is designed to have sheerer pigmentation, and it often has more sheer to medium coverage with a drier, dustier consistency that can be hard to apply with a dry brush. Lustre finish shades can suffer from fallout during application, too. They are the old school version of an eyeshadow "topper." I would recommend applying with a fingertip or applying with a dampened brush to get smoother, more even coverage and minimize fallout.
The Satin finish is few and far in-between, but it is softer and more yielding than the Matte finish but performs similarly. They tend to have very low sheen but are quite blendable with medium to opaque coverage. It can be easy to mix the finish up with the Velvet finish, which has more of a sparkle-over-matte effect but are more powdery than the true Matte finish.
The Frost finish is more firmly-pressed into the pan but doesn't have fallout, is often pigmented, and blends out well enough. They can sometimes be a little drier to the touch depending on how much shimmer is in the shade. The Veluxe Pearl finish is one of the creamier takes within the range, and newer shades released in the finish tend to have more moderate, silicone-like slip. I've found that Veluxe Pearl finish shades tend to have more semi-opaque pigmentation and are more consistent in performance than some of the other finishes.
One thing I've found with MAC eyeshadows is that they tend to last longer without primer than the average brand (eight hours). While some eyeshadow shades don't swatch well, they often apply better in practice--as in on the eyes!--than just swatched on the skin. They can be quite hit or miss, and they have inconsistencies between releases (see Carbon and its sordid review history!).
Browse all of our MAC Eyeshadow swatches.
Look Using this Product
Well Past Midnight
LELimited Edition. $17.00.
Cinder
Cinder is a deep gray with neutral-to-warm undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation with a firmer, stiffer texture that made it harder to pickup product with a brush as well as when it came to diffusing and blending out the eyeshadow on the skin. The color stayed on well for seven and a half hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Chanel Splendeur et Audace #3 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Anastasia Obsidian (LE, $12.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Too Faced Coal (LE, $16.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Black Truffle (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Stila Essence (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar).
- Ciate Beauty (LE, ) is more muted (95% similar).
- Dior Pied de Poule #3 (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Spy Glass (PiP, $4.50) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Chanel Mystere et Intensite #3 (PiP, ) is cooler (90% similar).
- NARS White Horse (LE, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$17.00/0.05 oz. - $340.00 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be a "highly pigmented powder" that goes on "evenly and blends well." MAC eyeshadows run the gamut from total failures to long-time, cult-favorite staples. In general, the permanent line has been more consistent in performance--and higher performance at that--compared to limited edition launches, but it can really depend.
The Matte finish tends to have a firmer press and a bit of thinness compared to other matte formulas on the market, so MAC matte eyeshadows tend to build up better and have better wear-time without fallout as they're not powdery at all. Some of the newer matte finish shades have had a more velvety quality to them that gives them a softer feel but aren't powdery; these have been easier to blend and are often more pigmented in one layer.
The Lustre finish is designed to have sheerer pigmentation, and it often has more sheer to medium coverage with a drier, dustier consistency that can be hard to apply with a dry brush. Lustre finish shades can suffer from fallout during application, too. They are the old school version of an eyeshadow "topper." I would recommend applying with a fingertip or applying with a dampened brush to get smoother, more even coverage and minimize fallout.
The Satin finish is few and far in-between, but it is softer and more yielding than the Matte finish but performs similarly. They tend to have very low sheen but are quite blendable with medium to opaque coverage. It can be easy to mix the finish up with the Velvet finish, which has more of a sparkle-over-matte effect but are more powdery than the true Matte finish.
The Frost finish is more firmly-pressed into the pan but doesn't have fallout, is often pigmented, and blends out well enough. They can sometimes be a little drier to the touch depending on how much shimmer is in the shade. The Veluxe Pearl finish is one of the creamier takes within the range, and newer shades released in the finish tend to have more moderate, silicone-like slip. I've found that Veluxe Pearl finish shades tend to have more semi-opaque pigmentation and are more consistent in performance than some of the other finishes.
One thing I've found with MAC eyeshadows is that they tend to last longer without primer than the average brand (eight hours). While some eyeshadow shades don't swatch well, they often apply better in practice--as in on the eyes!--than just swatched on the skin. They can be quite hit or miss, and they have inconsistencies between releases (see Carbon and its sordid review history!).
Browse all of our MAC Eyeshadow swatches.
Oh – I was hoping this would score better. I really like the idea of both of the MAC 6 pan holiday releases though I’ve no need or burning desire for either. Nevertheless, I had hoped this one would be a good one for those who are just getting into makeup and need a good basic neutral palette. As for me, I’ll settle for better quality dupes.
Yikes! What a mess! But you did manage a pretty eye look for the photo. And the packaging is very pretty.
Back when I swatched both this and the Rose Gold Palette, I knew immediately that this one’s quality came nowhere close to the other one. This one struck me as dismal in quality.
I am, however, quite inspired by your eye look to shop my stash for a similar color themed look! Have: UD Radar, Fenty Oh-Zone, and I’m thinking L’oreal Imperial Gold could pinch hit for the gold above, throw in a bit of the deep taupe from Viseart Chroma and see what happens.
Oh dear, beautiful shades that should’ve been excellent – such a mistake putting in the glitter elements. As a work day palette, shimmer would have been better – and, at least, MAC can do shimmers.
Aacck!!! I got this in, haven’t touched it yet. Debating whether I should just return it without swatching first. I love the cooler tones here, and your eye look, hoping mine is better quality.